Post-doc - Immunological Evaluation and Formulation of Lipid Nanoparticles

Post-doc - Immunological Evaluation and Formulation of Lipid Nanoparticles

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At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease.

We believe the Greater Boston area is an important hub for the biotech and pharma industry, which is why we've invested in growing our footprint and expanding our R&D space in Cambridge, with a primary focus on additional state-of-the-art lab space. Here, we will bring together talent and expertise, building upon GSK's long history of vaccine development, to create globally leading viral capabilities and cutting-edge vaccines technologies, as we add to our robust portfolio targeting infectious diseases at every stage of life.

In the plan to create a new hub for mRNA-based vaccine discovery in Cambridge, we are building new laboratories that will be focused on the development of state-of-the-art methods that will be supporting deep product understanding, process and product development, as well as testing of pre-clinical and clinical samples for new mRNA-based vaccines.

mRNA-LNPs have achieved tremendous success in demonstrating vaccine efficacy against respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants in several target populations as well as RSV in older adults. However, much work remains to be done to understand their mechanism of action. LNPs have shown to have adjuvant properties [1]; however little is known about the mechanisms for this adjuvant effect, particularly in terms of interaction with immune cells and correlation with downstream events such as cell uptake, endosomal escape of the RNA into cytoplasm and protein expression, which ultimately contribute to mRNA vaccines' reactogenicity/efficacy balance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Elucidate the adjuvant mechanism of action (MoA) of LNPs to understand its existing contribution to immunogenicity of mRNA-LNP vaccines. To do so, we will leverage the experience built in-house as well as from extensive literature search in understanding the MoA of multi-component lipid-based adjuvant systems.
• On top of assessing the innate immune response to LNP, the candidate will correlate it with critical processes in mRNA biology, such as uptake mechanism, endosomal escape, and protein expression in established in vitro assays and in vivo models when necessary.
• Specifically, the candidate would produce the necessary LNP(s), develop the key immunological assays as well as utilize existing techniques at GSK to answer the key questions on the role LNPs play as an adjuvant in contributing to the immunogenicity of mRNA LNP vaccines.

Please use the cover letter to highlight how you fit the applicant profile and meet the skills and competencies for the role. Your cover letter along with your CV will be used to assess your application. This is intended to be a two year post-doc role with a potential third year being added.

Basic Qualifications:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field such as immunology, pharmaceutical sciences, virology, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline.
• Two or more years of experience in laboratory research, particularly in areas relevant to mRNA research, cell-based immunology assays, etc.
• Two or more years of experience in laboratory techniques pertinent to cell biology, immunology, which might include in vitro cell-based assays in primary cells for innate immune signaling, receptor knock-out in vitro and in vivo evaluations, etc.
• Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, with at least 1-2 first author research publications in the field of vaccines or related areas.

Preferred Qualifications:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Research expertise in specific areas such as adjuvants or mRNA-LNP vaccines, or systems biology approaches to vaccine research.
• Strong ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with excellent written and oral communication skills for effectively presenting research findings and authoring scientific papers.
• In-depth understanding of RNA biology, and mechanism of action for adjuvants and mRNA vaccines
• Practical experience in designing and conducting experiments using validated in vitro tools and animal models to study signalling pathways, vaccine efficacy and safety.
• Direct experience or related knowledge about LNP composition, formulation and physicochemical characterization
• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams, potentially involving preclinical and clinical researchers, to address complex research questions. Demonstrated ability to manage research projects, including planning, executing, and coordinating various aspects,

#Li-GSK

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Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose - to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together - so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns - as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it's also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves - feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

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